Bobcat nearly got her, now lethargic hen, yellow poop, help!!

[redfishingirl]

On Sunday, we were out in the yard with our girls when they scattered. We turned around and a bobcat ran out of the yard- not more than 10 feet from where we were standing. 3 of the girls ran back into the coop and we rounded up the others. One of them seemed particularly stressed afterwards, and after closer examination, we found a pile of feathers in the yard and could only determine that the bobcat must have nearly gotten her. We tried to look for any signs of injury, but there wasn't really anything to speak of so we let her be.

Monday morning, when we woke up, she was still in the nest when all of the other girls had gone down. One of the other girls had laid a shell-less egg and it seemed that she had eaten some of it, but it was hanging off her beak and stuck all to her beard (She's an Easter egger). We couldn't get her to drink. We cleaned her up and tried to give her some droppers of water, but she is very resistant, but not strong enough to run away (And she's not a cuddly one, very hard to hold usually.)

We had some chick electrolyte solution so we mixed some up and put her in a separate coop away from the other girls, but took her out every couple hours to try to get her to eat or drink. She will not do either voluntarily. Today, I mixed some feed with water and force fed her some with a syringe like a baby bird, and even though she swallows when we force her, she is still not eating or drinking. She is still pooping, but it is a watery yellow. Her crop is empty.

She was more active today than yesterday, and her wattles and comb are still red. Does anyone else have any other suggestions? This girl is about a year old.

 

[bjoii1]

I was wondering the same thing. We have a 16 week old Sicilian Buttercup and she was attacked yesterday by a fox. Miraculously, there were no open wounds, but she lost all her tail and back feathers, so she's down to the skin. I have separated her from the three other girls we have b/c I didn't want them pecking her. I also sprayed her skin with Vetericyn Skin & Wound Care and Blu Kote, to hopefully disguise her bare skin. However, my greater concern is her unwillingness to eat, drink or move around. Her eyes are alert and her little comb & wattles are still the same color, but she won't make any noise. Trying to keep things calm for her b/c I know she was through a traumatic attack, but wondering if there is any advice out there from other flock owners.

 

[redfishingirl]

We were able to get her to eat about 1/4 cup of food last night, which was more than she ate the last 3 days combined and this morning she was drinking on her own, so that is a really good sign for us! I am hoping that she was just in shock, I have no idea how long that usually lasts, but it seems like she is coming out of it. Our girl was molting already, so I'm sure she felt bad enough to begin with and it's probably why there were so many feathers where the bobcat tried to get her. Good luck with your hen. Mine seems to want to be near the other girls, so her "Chicken condo" is right next to the regular coop.

 

[bjoii1]

How is your hen doing? My hen was recovering nicely, but the horrible fox came back yesterday and killed her and my Easter Egger and wounded my Barred Rock. I had been letting my 5 pullets free range until last week when the fox attacked. I then confined them to the outside run next to the coop, fully equipped with locks and hardware cloth, but the fox was strong enough to pull the door right off the run. We're heartbroken here and thinking about trying to find a new home for our remaining sweet birds. We have a lot of property, but no fence so its like a dinner buffet for the predators. Not sure my kids can take more losses.

 

[redfishingirl]

Oh No! I am so sorry to hear that! My hen is still recovering. She is doing much better in the last couple days, eating on her own (we had been force feeding her). The funny thing is, she will only eat greens and forage, she is not interested in the feed at all. Today, I shredded up some zucchini for her and mixed some of the feed in with it, but she just pecked around it. We still have her isolated, because she gets tired and the other hens pick on her, but she can see them (her little chicken condo is only a foot away from their run) and we let them free range together when we are watching.
That's terrible about the fox. Maybe in the coop building section, someone would have some suggestions on how to secure your coop/run against that type of attack? I love my hens and don't think I could get rid of them. It is hard on the kids, though.

 

[Hannah Pfister]

On Sunday, we were out in the yard with our girls when they scattered. We turned around and a bobcat ran out of the yard- not more than 10 feet from where we were standing. 3 of the girls ran back into the coop and we rounded up the others. One of them seemed particularly stressed afterwards, and after closer examination, we found a pile of feathers in the yard and could only determine that the bobcat must have nearly gotten her. We tried to look for any signs of injury, but there wasn't really anything to speak of so we let her be.

Monday morning, when we woke up, she was still in the nest when all of the other girls had gone down. One of the other girls had laid a shell-less egg and it seemed that she had eaten some of it, but it was hanging off her beak and stuck all to her beard (She's an Easter egger). We couldn't get her to drink. We cleaned her up and tried to give her some droppers of water, but she is very resistant, but not strong enough to run away (And she's not a cuddly one, very hard to hold usually.)

We had some chick electrolyte solution so we mixed some up and put her in a separate coop away from the other girls, but took her out every couple hours to try to get her to eat or drink. She will not do either voluntarily. Today, I mixed some feed with water and force fed her some with a syringe like a baby bird, and even though she swallows when we force her, she is still not eating or drinking. She is still pooping, but it is a watery yellow. Her crop is empty.

She was more active today than yesterday, and her wattles and comb are still red. Does anyone else have any other suggestions? This girl is about a year old.

My girl was attacked by a Bobcat and was drug up a tree. Wounds on her neck, I took her to the Emergency vet because I thought she was dying. One of the bite marks made her eye droopy. She's not drinking and will only sleep on my chest when she's usually not so cuddly. How long dis your chicken stay in shock? My girl hasnt eaten, but she tries to drink the water. I've syringes water into her mouth and she drinks and her crop feels full still.. normal poop.. any suggestions on what to Do?